Abstract: A dish washing includes a cabinet having a washing room formed in the cabinet to receive dishes, an injection arm for injecting a washing water toward the dishes, and many components contacted with the washing water. In order to improve the utilization efficiency of the dish washing machine, the machine also includes a plasma coating layer formed on an outer surface of each of the components, a heater for heating the washing water, an air ventilation hole for discharge humid air while the dishes are dried, and a discharge fan for forcibly flowing air through the air ventilation hole.

Abstract: A dishwasher has multiple wash zones which are each supplied by a wash liquid supply. An interior tub configured to provide an interior wash chamber for washing dishes is divisible into a plurality of wash zones supplied by separate wash liquid supplies. One of the wash zones is supplied by a spray manifold having rotating spray heads. The spray heads are provided with internal vanes which urge the spray heads to rotate and direct wash liquid to outlets in the spray heads.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning apparatus comprises an outer shell constructed such that the outer shell is selectively openable or hermetically closable to form a sealed space, an inner shell enclosed within the outer shell and having a holding member for holding a substrate, and a dispenser unit for feeding at least one of gas and liquid into the inner shell. Within the sealed space formed by the outer shell, a highly gas-tight space is formed by the inner shell to permit cleaning of the substrate within the highly gas-tight space. Also disclosed are a dispenser, a substrate holding mechanism and a substrate cleaning chamber, which are suitable for use with the substrate cleaning apparatus, and substrate cleaning processes making use of these dispenser, substrate holding mechanism and substrate cleaning chamber, respectively.

Abstract: This application discloses an apparatus for scarifying the interior surface of a sewer pipe, which can remain in the sewer under active flow conditions. The apparatus includes at least one scarifying head, which may transverse back and forth along a rail assembly, which is configured to match the circumferential shape of the sewer pipe. The scarifying head includes a nozzle assembly and driving assembly. The nozzle assembly, located at the outer end of the scarifying head has nozzles. The nozzles emit jets of water under pressure to clean or scarify the interior surface of the pipe.

Abstract: An adjustable hiking stick includes a telescopic tube having multiple interconnected sections. Adjacent sections connect at a joint, and the joint includes an end sleeve, a slide limit device, an inside section and an outside section. The outside section has an outside end and an interior surface. The inside section is slidably extended into the outside section and has an inside end and an exterior surface. The end sleeve is attached to the outside end of the outside section and has an annular lip. The slide limit device can be ribs, rings or the like that protruded from the exterior surface of the inside section and is formed adjacent to the inside end of the inside section. The slide limit device will abut the annular lip and keep the inside section from being pulled completely out of the outside section when the inside section is adjusted.

Abstract: A retractable rain cover is attachable to a golf cart has a rigid frame extending aft from the rear roofline of a golf cart and over a golf bag carried at the rear of the cart. A flexible canopy is movable along the frame from a stowed position to a deployed position. In the stowed position the canopy is contained either rolled up in a housing along the rear roofline of is in a lay flat condition disposed within the footprint of the golf cart roof. In the deployed position the canopy extends along the frame and overlies the golf bag at the rear of the cart. Also, the canopy has a closable opening positioned to align with the upper end of the golf bag when the canopy is in a deployed position thereby permitting direct access through the deployed canopy to any golf club in the bag.

Abstract: A portable structure has a first support pole forming a first arc, when ends of the first support pole rest on ground, and a second support pole forming a second arc, crossing the first arc, when ends of the second support pole rest on the ground. A curved linking pole crosses, off of the ground, at least one of the first and second arcs.

Abstract: A vertical, monolithic, thin-film thermoelectric device is described. Thermoelectric elements of opposing conductivity types may be coupled electrically in series and thermally in parallel by associated electrodes on a single substrate, reducing the need for mechanisms to attach multiple substrates or components. Phonon transport may be separated from electron transport in a thermoelectric element. A thermoelectric element may have a thickness less than an associated thermalization length. An insulating film between an electrode having a first temperature and an electrode having a second temperature may be a low-thermal conductivity material, a low-k, or ultra-low-k dielectric. Phonon thermal conductivity between a thermoelectric element and an electrode may be reduced without a significant reduction in electron thermal conductivity, as compared to other thermoelectric devices. A phonon conduction impeding material may be included in regions coupling an electrode to an associated thermoelectric element (e.g.

Abstract: A vertical, monolithic, thin-film thermoelectric device is described. Thermoelectric elements of opposing conductivity types may be coupled electrically in series and thermally in parallel by associated electrodes on a single substrate, reducing the need for mechanisms to attach multiple substrates or components. Phonon transport may be separated from electron transport in a thermoelectric element. A thermoelectric element may have a thickness less than an associated thermalization length. An insulating film between an electrode having a first temperature and an electrode having a second temperature may be a low-thermal conductivity material, a low-k, or ultra-low-k dielectric. Phonon thermal conductivity between a thermoelectric element and an electrode may be reduced without a significant reduction in electron thermal conductivity, as compared to other thermoelectric devices. A phonon conduction impeding material may be included in regions coupling an electrode to an associated thermoelectric element (e.g.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device with an improved figure-of-merit achieved by lowering the thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric device without significantly reducing electrical conductivity. The reduction in value of thermal conductivity is achieved by reducing the phonon thermal conductivity ?p without significantly affecting the electron thermal conductivity ?e. The reduction in phonon thermal conductivity ?p is accomplished in two steps: First the phonon conduction is decoupled and separated from the electron conduction by the use of an ultra-thin film semiconductor thermoelement. And second, the phonon conduction is selectively attenuated by the use of phonon-blocking structures without affecting the electron conduction. Methods for fabrication of the thermoelectric devices are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a micro thermoelectric device and manufacturing method thereof, and the manufacturing method comprises the steps of providing a substrate and depositing a barrier layer on the substrate, using the barrier layer as a mask to etch a pattern on the barrier layer to form a plurality of openings, adopting a reactive ion etching (RIE) method to remove the barrier layer and smoothing the curvature of the corner of each groove, depositing a metal conductive wire layer, coating an adhesive layer in said each groove by a surface mount technology (SMT), placing a plurality of thermoelectric materials individually into each groove, repeating steps (a) to (f) to produce another substrate, and connecting the two substrates into an aligned position.

Abstract: A vertical, monolithic, thin-film thermoelectric device is described. Thermoelectric elements of opposing conductivity types may be coupled electrically in series and thermally in parallel by associated electrodes on a single substrate, reducing the need for mechanisms to attach multiple substrates or components. Phonon transport may be separated from electron transport in a thermoelectric element. A thermoelectric element may have a thickness less than an associated thermalization length. An insulating film between an electrode having a first temperature and an electrode having a second temperature may be a low-thermal conductivity material, a low-k, or ultra-low-k dielectric. Phonon thermal conductivity between a thermoelectric element and an electrode may be reduced without a significant reduction in electron thermal conductivity, as compared to other thermoelectric devices. A phonon conduction impeding material may be included in regions coupling an electrode to an associated thermoelectric element (e.g.

Abstract: Liquid crystal displays (10) and touch sensitive displays (41) are stacked with one or more solar cells (15) such that light passing through the displays will illuminate the light receiving active surface of the solar cells (15). No reflector or polarizer need be used when the liquid crystal display (10) uses cholesteric or polymer dispersed liquid crystals. When using supertwist nematic or twisted nematic liquid crystals, a reflector (21) can be used that comprises a selective color reflector. The resultant display/solar cell can be utilized in combination with a device such as a wireless communications device (62) with the solar cell (15) providing electricity to the display (61), the wireless communications device (62), or both. A mask (71) can be used to occlude surface features on the solar cell (15) as appropriate to provide a substantially uniformly colored appearance.

Abstract: Nanocomposite photovoltaic devices are provided that generally include semiconductor nanocrystals as at least a portion of a photoactive layer. Photovoltaic devices and other layered devices that comprise core-shell nanostructures and/or two populations of nanostructures, where the nanostructures are not necessarily part of a nanocomposite, are also features of the invention. Varied architectures for such devices are also provided including flexible and rigid architectures, planar and non-planar architectures and the like, as are systems incorporating such devices, and methods and systems for fabricating such devices. Compositions comprising two populations of nanostructures of different materials are also a feature of the invention.

Abstract: Three-terminal (3-T) and four-terminal (4-T) thin-film, Si-based, multi-junction solar cells, and solar cell panels wherein multiple solar cells are electrically connected in series, in which current-matching-constraints are released from the two stacked cells that make up each solar cell, wherein the two stacked cells (i.e. a first n-i-p a-Si:H cell considered in the direction of light penetration, and a second stable, low band gap material p-i-n cell, such as a p-i-n nc-Si:H cell considered in the direction of light penetration) are carried by a substrate having a top-disposed and ultra-thin (about 1000 A thick) a-Si:H solar cell where instability is not an issue, the invention having the potential of attaining ?>16%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photovoltaic device capable of keeping reduction of the yield in modularization in check. This photovoltaic device comprises a transparent conductive film, and a collector which is formed on the surface of the transparent conductive film so as to be in partial contact with a semiconductor layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell including: a transparent electrode; a counter electrode; a porous semiconductor layer having a dye sensitizer adsorbed therein; and a carrier transport layer containing an electrolytic solution therein, the porous semiconductor layer and the carrier transport layer being located between the transparent electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the electrolytic solution contains a heterocyclic compound comprising a heteroatom in the ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dye-sensitized solar cell with enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency. The dye-sensitized solar cell includes a first electrode of a light transmission material, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a dye-absorbed porous layer formed on the first electrode. An electrolyte is injected between the first and the second electrodes. The porous layer contains first and second materials differing from each other in conduction band energy level.

Abstract: A valve apparatus (100) for use in sterile fluid transfer or isolator systems has open entry (10) and exit (11) sides and a passageway (9) for fluid between the entry (10) and the exit (11) sides. The entry side (10) is connectable to an opening (4c) of a vessel or pipe (4) and the exit side (11) is connectable to downstream processing by means such as tubing, a vessel or a pipe. The entry side (10) includes a rupturable seal (2a) blocking the open entry side (10). Valve (100) also includes an actuator (5) attached to a piston (1) which moves within the valve (100), the piston being connected to the seal so that on movement of the piston, the seal is torn free from the entry side thereby allowing fluid gain entry to the valve (100) and to pass along the passageway (9) between the open entry (10) and exit (11) sides to downstream processing.

Abstract: A fuel control valve (100) includes a rotary throttling valve assembly (4,7) providing one or more of the benefits of being lightweight, having a relatively low power consumption, having a fail-closed structure and/or zero leakage. The fuel control valve (100) is a rotary, throttling valve that is actuated via a rotary torque motor (70). The valve (7) can be spring loaded for providing positive shutoff. Position indication of the valve (7) is obtained via a position sensor (31) and cam (13) mounted to the throttling valve shaft at a driven end (98). In a de-energized state, a torsion spring (45) is provided that is loaded to rotate the valve (7) to the closed position. The fuel control valve (100) may be advantageously utilized in extreme operating environments, e.g., such as extreme temperature and vibration environments found in missile control fuel systems.

Abstract: A safety valve 1 comprises a main body 2, fixed body 2, meltable body 7, movable body 8, biasing member 9, movable plug 10 and plug holding means 11. The fixed body 2 has a small axial passageway 14 communicating with the interior of a container T, and a large axial passageway 15 having an upper-end opening. The movable plug 10 has a small rod portion 18 fitting in the upper end of the small axial passageway 14 of the fixed body 2, an intermediate rod portion 19 providing a clearance therearound inside a lower end portion of the large axial passageway 15 of the fixed body 2, and a large rod portion 20 slidably fitting in an intermediate portion of the large axial passageway 15 of the fixed body 2.

Abstract: An apparatus allowing the automatic drawing out of beverages from bottles (wherein the bottles are kept in their vertical position) comprising a drawing tap (12) which permits the entering of the gas in the bottle, the drawing of the liquid and the cleaning of the spout channel (19) and allows an easy and hygienic substitution of the empty bottles.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body with an access opening in which a linearly installed but pivotally operated gate-like valve-stopping mechanism is disposed, said mechanism including a support structure or cartridge with a pivotally moveable valve-stopping element or isolator (e.g., a butterfly element). A method for hot tapping a pipeline with a valve assembly as described above proceeds by (i) connecting the valve body to a line to be tapped, (iii) connecting a hot-tapping machine to the valve body, (iv) connecting a bonnet holding the valve-stopping mechanism to the valve body over the access opening, (v) hot tapping the line, (vi) advancing the valve-stopping mechanism into the valve body interior, and (vii) disconnecting the hot-tapping machine from the valve body with the valve-stopping element pivoted to the first position where it stops fluid communications. The gate-like valve-stopping mechanism can replace a gate in an insert valve (IV) or a repair-under-pressure (RUP) valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve stem, an annular bonnet configured to receive the valve stem, a valve disk coupled to one end of the valve stem, a seal, and an insert. The seal is disposed adjacent the valve disk and has a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface includes a first pair of sealing ridges extending upwardly therefrom and the bottom surface includes a second pair of sealing ridges extending downwardly therefrom. The insert includes a recess configured to receive the seal that performs a sealing function and a biasing function. The valve assembly can easily be configured to open in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction without resort to adapters or other additional pieces by rotating the bonnet/valve stem sub-assembly 90° relative to the insert.

Abstract: A flow control device may include an inlet for passing fluid into the device, an outlet for passing fluid from the device, a pneumatic pressure controlling portion, a fluid flow control valve actuated by pneumatic pressure supplied via the pneumatic pressure controlling portion, a flow meter configured to measure flow rate of the fluid, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic pressure controlling portion at least according to the flow rate measured by the flow meter. Actuation of the fluid flow control valve may cause adjustment of the flow rate.

Abstract: An electrically operated valve controls the flow of oil to and from a device that activates and deactivates a cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine. A first valve seat is between an inlet and a workport connected to the device and a second valve seat is between the workport and an outlet. A valve element engages the first valve seat when a solenoid actuator is energized. The valve element and the first valve seat cooperate to allow air to bleed from the inlet through the valve upon starting the engine, but prevent the oil from flowing in that path unless the solenoid actuator is energized. In one version of the valve, the valve element engages the second valve seat when disengaged from the first valve seat. In a second version, another valve element engages the second valve seat when oil flows through the first valve seat.

Abstract: The redundant valve system 10 of the preferred embodiment includes a first valve unit 12 and a second valve unit 14. The redundant valve system 10 is preferably used to connect a source 16 to a destination 18 and to connect the destination 18 to a reservoir 20. The first valve unit 12 and the second valve unit 14 are coupled to control fluid flow such that fluid flow is allowed in only one of two given directions at any given time, either from the source 16 to the destination 18 or from the destination 18 to the reservoir 20.

Abstract: The present invention provides gas control valve including a valve body having a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a gas passage between the inlet and outlet, and including a valve control element for controlling the flow of gas between the inlet and the outlet. The valve control element includes valve stem have a cam follower in the form of a pin projecting laterally there-from, and a bead 8 at one end of the stem bearing an O-ring that is able to seal against an inside wall surface of the body to seal the gas outlet. The cam follower pin on the stem engages with a cam surface of the valve body. Rotation of the valve control element causes the cam follower pin to co-operate with the cam surface and displace the valve control element to open or close the valve. The present invention also provides a gas appliance having one or more gas burners and a gas control including at least one control value according to the invention.

Abstract: A hands-free faucet comprises a proximity sensor, a logical control, a handle including a first touch control, a second touch control, and a mode indicator. The logical control has a manual mode (wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and water flow is toggled on and off by positioning the handle) and a hands-free mode (wherein water flow is toggled on and off in response to the proximity sensor). The first touch control puts the faucet in the hands-free mode when touched by a user. The second touch control toggles the logical control between the hands-free mode and the manual mode when touched by a user. The mode indicator indicates which mode the faucet is presently in. The water flow has a temperature and a flow rate that are determined by the position of the handle.

Abstract: A capacitive touch-controlled automatic faucet comprises: a spout, a magnetically latching valve, a proximity sensor, a handle, a capacitive touch-control, and a logical control. The proximity sensor is sensitive to motion of objects within a detection zone of the proximity sensor. The handle determines a water flow rate and temperature. The capacitive touch-control is positioned in the spout and generates an output signal while the touch-control is in contact with a user. The logical control receives the output signal, and toggles the magnetically latching valve when the output signal begins and ends within a period of time less than a predetermined threshold, but does not toggle the magnetically latching valve when the output signal persists for a period longer than the predetermined threshold. The faucet has a manual mode, wherein the proximity sensor is inactive, and a hands-free mode, wherein water flow is toggled in response to the proximity sensor.

Abstract: A valve device includes a main body case to which an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe are connected, a valve element which is disposed inside of the main body case to open or close an outflow aperture part of the main body case, a motor for moving the valve element in an open direction and a closed direction, a valve element drive means which is driven by the motor and includes a rotary member rotated by the motor and a rotation side permanent magnet mounted in the rotary member, a valve element side permanent magnet mounted in the valve element, and a holding member which movably holds the valve element. The valve element is urged in the open direction or the closed direction by a magnetic attractive force or a magnetic repulsive force generated between the rotation side permanent magnet and the valve element side permanent magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling exhaust produced by a reactive chamber is provided. The apparatus for controlling exhaust may include, for example, a valve body having an exhaust hole for the exhaust to pass through, and may include a first and second valve which regulate the opening and/or the closing of the exhaust hole. A control device may control the operation of the first and second valves based on the internal pressure of the reactive chamber.

Abstract: A diaphragm valve has a first, second, and third ports, each of which for fluid entry or exit, and an adjustable diaphragm. In one aspect, a housing of the valve has at least a portion made from a transparent material such that the diaphragm is visible during operation of the valve. In another aspect, the valve includes a plastic housing having a metallic threaded portion to receive a compatibly threaded fastener to secure a periphery of the diaphragm to the housing. In another aspect, the valve also includes a plurality of fins disposed on the housing and axially extending along a branched portion of the interior passage.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve assembly is provided to activate and deactivate cylinder valves of a multi-cylinder engine. A plurality of electrohydraulic valves are loosely received in openings in a base plate which allows the relative positions of the valve to adjust automatically for dimensional irregularities as the assembly is installed on the engine. At the complete of that installation, elements of each electrohydraulic valve are clamped between the base plate and the engine to secure the valves in position. A flexible lead frame containing electrical conductors is secured to both the base plate and the electrohydraulic valves provides additional support while allowing movement of the valves with respect to the base plate.

Abstract: The sewage dump system of this invention comprises an elongated housing adapted for support on a mobile vehicle, the housing having an elongated sewage hose storage compartment having a height slightly greater than the diameter of a storage hose and communicating at its open end with an adjoining space configured to contain a hose outlet fitting on the outlet end of the sewage hose, the storage hose being folded intermediate its ends for reception in the hose storage compartment for guidance therein between said folded condition within the compartment and an extended position with the hose fitting communicating with a sewage dump site. In one embodiment, a plurality of spaced rollers having concave peripheries are spaced apart along one longitudinal side of the storage compartment to facilitate guiding the storage hose during extension and retraction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising rigid or semirigid shafts (120) and at least a member (200) provided with orifices (203) for the passage and direct guiding in translation and angular positioning of a shaft in its controlled rocking movements (F1). Said member (200) is mobile, with two degrees of freedom relative to the loom frame, in translation (F4), along a direction globally parallel to the direction (A-A?) of the weft yarns, and in rotation (P4), about an axis (Z1Z?1) globally parallel to the translational direction (A-A?) of the shafts. Said member (200) can be positioned (F4, P4) by the warp yarns (103) which pass through the eyelets (127) of the shafts (120) which it guides.

Abstract: Apparatus monitoring and/or adjusting tensile force in a yarn (10) including at least three consecutive yarn deflecting elements (11, 12, 13) of which the central deflecting element (12) is displaceably held by a retention device (14) that is supported in such a way that the motion and/or position of the deflecting element (12) is substantially a function only of the tensile force F1 in one yarn segment, such segment being situated between the displaceable deflecting element (12) and only one of the two neighboring deflecting elements (11 or 13).

Abstract: A wire comb and method for assembling an organized bundle, such as a bundled cable, from a plurality of strands using the wire comb. The wire comb includes an inner component as a hub and an outer component as a collar. The hub has slots configured to accept the plurality of strands lengthwise, and at least one projection that extends beyond an outer perimeter of the hub. The collar has at least one recess configured to interface with the projection of the hub for connecting the hub to the collar. The collar also has an opening that allows the plurality of strands to be inserted into the collar prior to connecting the hub with the collar. As such, combing can be accomplished without requiring that the wire combing commence from either end of the strands.

Abstract: A valve for closing a container and for enabling the container to be filled has a housing (20) with an inlet port (30) and an outlet port (40). A closing member (60) is provided for sealingly closing the valve at the inlet port (30). At least one valve member (70) is provided for controlling fluid communication between the inlet port (30) and the outlet port (40). The valve member only allows fluid communication when it is in a first position. The valve member (70) is designed in such a way that it is brought into and maintained in said first position only if a predetermined filling condition is achieved. The filling condition is typically achieved, when the filling pressure of a system for filling the container (50) is initially below a first predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable sampler (1) for use in an explosion-endangered area, having a housing (5), in which at least the following components are arranged: a pump unit (8) having a first drive unit (9), a sensor (10) for determining the amount of sample supplied from the pump unit (8), a control unit (6), which controls the taking of a desired amount of sample and the filling thereof into at least one container (13), and at least one power supply unit (7), which provides the power for driving the first drive unit (9), the sensor (10) and the control unit (6), wherein the components (6, 7, 9, 10) are modularly constructed and wherein each module (6, 7, 9, 10) is embodied such that it satisfies a specified ignition protection type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a guide-through assembly (4) for a filling level sensor working according to the principle of delay measurement of guided electromagnetic waves or for a capacitive filling level sensor, which for sealing the interior of the vessel against the interior of the sensor has no elastomeric sealing materials and in particular no elastomeric o-rings seals. This can be ensured by precisely machining the components which are essentially concentrically arranged in the guide-through assembly (4) on their circumferential surfaces (10, 11), so that in an assembled state the components arranged in the guide-through assembly (4), such as the interior conductor (7) and the dielectric materials (9, 12, 14) surrounding the interior conductor (7), contact each other at their mutually adjacent circumferential surfaces (11) in a sealing and positive engagement, so that additional sealing elements are not needed.

Abstract: A fluid additive delivery system includes a container for a fluid additive gel. The container has one or more openings to allow contact of the fluid with the gel to cause one or more additive components in the gel to be released into the fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process of and device for handling an upright filled bag with a closed bag flap while the bag flap is being sewn in a sewing station. The device comprises two pivotable arms with clamping means which is able to fix the closed bag flap underneath a sewing line, as well as feeding means for the arms by means of which the clamping means can be guided underneath past a sewing position.

Abstract: Beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage having a filling machine for filling bottles and other beverage containers with a liquid beverage. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A modular container filling apparatus includes a simple pilot valve which can be operated by a push button, a bottle-engaging yoke, or a manual valve at the distal end of a bucket filling hose. The modular construction of the apparatus allows a plurality of units to be mounted side by side on a modular water manifold by bayonet-type sealing connections. An anti-foam venturi and spout mixes chemicals with the water and minimizes foaming when filling a bottle. A plurality of chemicals can be selected by a rotational selector without intermixing.

Abstract: The method of bending wood materials inserts cylindrical or board shaped wood material of uniform lateral cross-section into a bending template shaping channel via a driving mechanism to bend the wood material in the shaping channel. Further, the bending method of this invention applies pressure to the front end of the wood material via a braking mechanism to limit its movement in the shaping channel and prevent tension fracture on the stretched side of the curved wood material. Wood material, which is pushed from its aft end and movement limited at its front end, is compressed to control the amount of stretching of the extended outer periphery of the wood material undergoing bending and prevent tension fracture.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic iron alloy powder for a magnetic recording medium is composed of acicular iron-base particles of an average major axis length (X) of not less than 20 nm and not greater than 80 nm and have oxygen content of not less than 15 wt % and coercive force (Hc) of not less than [0.0036 X3?1.1 X2+110 X?1390 (Oe)] (where X is average major axis length expressed in nm). The ferromagnetic iron alloy powder is obtained by reacting metal powder composed of acicular iron-base particles having an average major axis length of not less than 20 nm and not greater than 80 nm with pure water in substantial absence of oxygen to form a metal oxide film on the particle surfaces. Optionally, the particles can be reacted with a weak oxidizing gas by a wet or dry method.

Abstract: Described here is a method for pretreating the surfaces of weld parts of aluminum or alloys thereof, and weld parts produced with said method. Prior to welding, the weld parts are subjected to a treatment (17) in an acidic, aqueous solution, wherein the acidic, aqueous solution contains ions of the elements boron and/or silicon and/or titanium and/or zirconium and/or hafnium. The invention consists in that a polishing step (9) is carried out prior to the treatment in the acidic, aqueous solution to make for better sliding in a feed apparatus during the welding process.

Abstract: A method to passivate a metal or metal oxide or metal suboxide powder, especially a valve metal powder such as tantalum or niobium and the passivated powders formed therefrom are described. The method includes passivating a starting powder with a gas having at least 25 wt. % oxygen present. Passivation is preferably achieved without performing any evacuation steps. Capacitors made from the passivated powders are also described.

Abstract: A magnesium alloy and a die casting produced from the alloy include an AZ91-based magnesium alloy including 6.0 to 11.0 percent by weight of aluminum, 0.1 to 2.5 percent by weight of zinc, 0.1 to 0.5 percent by weight of manganese, and strontium and at least one of calcium and antimony added in an amount sufficient to act as a grain refining agent.